An Chao sat in silence for a long time.
The information Rou Kun provided wasn’t much, and it might not even be reliable.
Thinking back to how Meng Shao withdrew cash at the Meng family villa, Lu Jianyuan figured he’d have to discuss it with Xue Yu.
Rong Shao watched the desolate housekeeper’s son, feeling a bit uneasy.
Rong Shao had barely visited the Su family since childhood.
Their relationship had always been distant and awkward.
Still, he’d grown up under their roof, watched over by Aunt Xu since he was little.
Perhaps it was because he’d been raised by his mother and then ate at their table that Meng Shao and Xu Xiao were so precocious, even more so than other kids their age.
Compared to the rowdy boys in the neighborhood, they seemed more refined, gentle, and quiet—almost like girls.
Now, knowing the truth, he wasn’t sure whether the children could handle it.
A heavy silence settled. Lu Jianyuan forced a smile at Xue Qin and said, “Sit. I just wanted to have a word with you.”
Rong Shao hesitated for a moment before sitting down on the blackened bench.
He couldn’t tell what his uncle wanted, and he didn’t dare ask.
His uncle looked strict, but he’d always been kind.
An Chao watched his nephew.
He could see at a glance that this child was deeply troubled.
“Remember, you must always remember, the An family will always be your shield.”
Rong Shao stubbornly nodded, confused, and looked at his uncle.
An Chao felt a pang in his heart, but as a man, he knew that only by growing up could he live up to his mother’s expectations.
“Do you remember that car accident?”
Rong Shao’s heart skipped a beat, and he nodded.
“Honestly… that accident… it’s very likely your father arranged it.”
When the words fell, An Chao fixed his gaze on his nephew to observe his reaction.
Meng Shao’s expression was calm, but his eyes were unwavering.
Rong Shao lowered his head, his voice muffled.
“I guessed as much.”
He let out a breath.
The truth was finally out, and all the worries he’d kept bottled up spilled forth.
His heart was both cold and heavy.
“I never dared to say it. I was afraid my aunt would know and be heartbroken.”
Lu Jianyuan reached out and patted Rong Shao’s back.
“I’m telling you now because I believe you can handle it.”
Meng Shao pressed his lips together.
“It’s fine. I’m used to it. He’s never cared about me, so I don’t expect anything from him.”
An Chao nodded approvingly.
His nephew’s composure was impressive.
He glanced at him and thought, fortunately, he’s strong enough to withstand this.
“Be careful from now on. If your father tries anything, let me know right away.”
With that, the heavy air in the room dissipated a little.
Lu Jianyuan finally let Rong Shao go.
Once outside, Xue Yu clenched his fists, feeling both relieved and frustrated.
Yet, no matter how much he tried to brush it off, the pain lingered.
Everyone wants to be loved by their parents.
As a child, he’d always hoped for his father’s affection.
But as he grew older and realized it would never come, that hope faded, leaving behind only a faint ache.
He forced a smile.
***
The next day, at dawn, was the perfect time to visit the Yuan family.
Qin Shou brought the gifts Yan Xianqiong had prepared and arrived at the Lu residence early.
As soon as he reached the gate, he bumped into Cui Mingbo, who was holding a package for Tianbao.
The two exchanged a glance, both smiling with obvious determination.
The Lu family’s customs were quite strict.
Lu Yuying knew her nephew’s future in-laws were coming and had made sure to host them properly, wanting to check things out herself first.
Rong Shao had barely slept that night and looked exhausted.
Looking at himself in the mirror, he felt both anxious and resigned.
Should he try to avoid the big crowd?
Qin Shou and Cui Mingbo exchanged a knowing glance, and instead of making a fuss, they simply went in together.
With a bright smile, Qin Shou greeted everyone in the Lu family.
Everything was going well; the atmosphere was lively and sweet.
Even the usually reserved Pei Xiaoman, who never looked favorably upon the Lu family, gave a rare approving nod today.
Rong Shao, sitting in the corner, twitched at the corners of his mouth, his expression cold and distant.
Was it just him, or did everyone seem a little too enthusiastic?
After the greetings, Qin Ming took the lead and sat beside the elders, waiting for the meal to start.
He rolled up his sleeves and prepared to help with the kitchen work.
Oh, right, the An family’s younger brother and the Xu family’s little Zang Xuyi were also here, all hanging around.
The kitchen was bustling as everyone finished eating, and since there were guests today, the entire Lu family was busy.
The men of the family formed a circle around the kitchen table.
It was a classic scene of family chores.
Watching from the side, Qin Shou wiped his hands and asked, “Xue Yu, are you helping out today?”
Qin Shou didn’t hesitate and replied, “Of course.”
With nimble hands, he wrapped a golden crab and placed it on the plate in front of Rong Shao, clearly pleased.
An Chao followed up.
“Is this from Wei Shijin?”
The little uncle lost the contest and backed down.
Yi Yinyu caught a glance from his cousin, smiled, and said casually, “Isn’t the old house where the Kuai family used to live? It seems the Rong family isn’t doing too well these days…”
Qin Dao had just taken a seat when Meng Shao, who was waiting with his bowl, suddenly cracked it, carefully picking up the broken pieces.
Qin Shou’s eyelids twitched.
“If they’re not doing well, that’s even better.”
Yi Yinyu nodded, sincerely admiring Qin Dao’s straightforwardness.
An Chao quietly wrapped dumplings, his gaze landing on his son’s serious face.
Qin Shou smiled faintly, feeling a sense of accomplishment as he glanced at Rong Shao.
Your husband is really good at this.
Rong Shao snorted, feigning indifference.
Some people just don’t appreciate romance.
After the family chores were done, everyone sat together at the table.
The first dish was brought out, steaming hot.
Cui Mingbo served the last main dish and gave Qin Dao a meaningful look.
They were obviously like brothers, but you’re acting like you’re sending me to my doom.
Heartless guy.
Qin Shou met his gaze and poured wine for Su Xiaoyi.
Yin Mingxiang: …
Well, when I get married, I’ll make you my best man.
As the dishes were served, Qin Shou’s skillful hands won him the admiration of all the Lu family’s women.
Qin Dao remained modest on the surface, but was secretly quite pleased.
Rong Shao glared at his smug little smile, wishing he had a tail to wag.
The younger ones helped the women, while the men gathered at another table to chat.
Most of the others went to another room.
Meng Shao looked at Qin Dao, who motioned for him to come over and smiled reassuringly.
After everyone was seated in the second room, Yi Yinyu, the youngest, closed the door and sat down.
After some light conversation, the mood grew serious.
Lu Jianyuan cleared his throat and briefly explained the situation.
An Chao and Lu Jinyu both knew the score and remained calm on the surface.
Qin Shou glanced at Cui Mingbo, who was eating bamboo shoots.
Cui Mingbo was more hot-tempered.
He slammed his bowl down and said, “Damn, I knew that Wen Jie Wen wasn’t any good, but I didn’t expect her to be so ruthless.”
Qin Shou didn’t lose his temper, his expression unreadable.
“I can guess what Wen Jie Wen’s assistant is after, but who sent them?”
It wasn’t that Qin Shou couldn’t see through Wen Jie Wen.
The Meng family had its own resources, and Wen Jie Wen could afford bodyguards, but that didn’t mean she could protect everyone around her.
The Rong family is a proper, upstanding family, doing honest business.
There’s no way Wen Jie Wen has that kind of power.
An Chao nodded and continued, “This is the reason I wanted to talk to all of you.”
According to Rou Kun, An Chao had sent someone to investigate Zhou Shiliu Wen, but there wasn’t much time and not much could be found.
What they could confirm was that someone powerful had recently entered Lu Yuqing’s circle.
“Wen Jie Wen’s connections are no small matter. She’s not doing anything above board, and her partnership with Lu Qingwen is probably to get close to the sharp end.”
When it came to underworld dealings, Cui Mingbo had the most say.
“I’ll go back and look into it, see who’s after us.”
The others looked at him like he was an idiot.
Be careful not to let your ambitions show too soon.
Lu Jianyuan snapped him back to reality.
“Qin Dao, I’ll need your help. Zhou Wen might need your skills, and there’s no shortage of fools around.”
Qin Shou, with something on his mind, smiled casually.
The situation is tense, and this is just a surface-level alliance for now.
Let’s see what these people have up their sleeves…
Qin Shou’s sharp eyes narrowed.
It was time to recalculate the power balance.
After the meeting, everyone stayed in the snow-covered courtyard for a while, finalizing their preliminary plans before heading their separate ways.
An Chao led his gentle daughter home, while Qin Shou embraced Xue Yu.
Cui Mingbo’s gaze drifted toward Rong Shao, and the group left together.
Rong Shao, feeling a bit down, called out quietly.
The dust on his face was obvious. Xue Yu glared at Qin Shou in frustration, “Didn’t I tell you to keep an eye on him?”
Zhong Cun, watching the scene, saw Rong Shao about to cry.
Pei Xiaoman watched her son with a lazy smile, thinking he was hopeless and might as well go become a monk.
Cui Mingbo’s dog was jumping at his feet.
As they left, Xue Yu glanced at Qin Shou with a complicated expression.
Her words were clipped and sharp.
It seemed the whole world only needed to rely on themselves.
After saying goodbye, Qin Shou finally remembered to check on Rong Shao, draping his arm around his shoulder.
The little wolf’s ears perked up.
Shu’s gentle smile was unforced, his face glowing with a rare, genuine joy.
Rong Shao’s face blushed, and Qin Shou gently brushed his hair behind his ear, his eyes full of warmth.
He leaned in and whispered by Rong Shao’s ear, his deep, warm voice lingering.
“Don’t be sad. You have me.”
Meng Shao looked at the sky, feeling that except for the brief moment when he learned the truth, he’d long since let go.
Yet Qin Shou’s words still made his heart ache.
Qin Dao smiled, gently rubbing the back of his hand over Rong Shao’s head in front of the whole family.
“Don’t be sad. You have me.”
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